Remembering Rep. John Lewis: A Civil Rights Icon

Rep. John Lewis, a civil rights icon and activist, died July 17 at age 80. As a congressman, Lewis was known for his strong dedication to uphold morality above politics. The son of sharecroppers, Lewis gained prominence as a civil rights leader who fought Jim Crow laws, racial inequality, and police brutality, and the impact of his legacy has been felt worldwide.

Congress announced that the Lewis family will wait to release further funeral plans until after the services of another prominent leader, Rev. C.T. Vivian, who also passed away July 17. There has been no confirmation yet on whether Lewis’ body will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol building.

On Monday, Speaker Nancy Pelosi appeared on CBS This Morning to discuss Lewis’s legacy, and the Georgia delegation honored Lewis with a moment of silence. “I served with him for 33 years in the Congress of the United States,” Pelosi said on show. “And he, again, challenged our conscience in so many ways in terms of equality and justice. And it was justice for all.”

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